On September 5th, 2023, the UNESCO-ZJU Workshop for Global Competence, jointly hosted by Zhejiang University and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and funded by the Graduate School of Zhejiang University, embraced its opening ceremony at Zijingang International Hotel, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Dr. Charity TINOFIREI, Operations Manager of UNESCO Beijing Multisectoral Regional Office, Ms. HUANG Hua, Administrative Assistant in Operations of the Office, Prof. ZHAO Jia, Vice Dean of School of International Studies, Zhejiang University, Prof. LI yuan, Director of Secretariat of Global Competency Center of Zhejiang University, Associate Prof. LI Jia, Executive Director of Secretariat of the Center, Associate Prof. XU Xueying, Director of Development Planning Dept. of the Center, Prof. HU Jie, Director of Academic Research Dept. of the Center, CHEN Liying, Director of the Office of the Secretariat of the Center, Maziyar SHOKRANI and Sami FARHAD, Senior Tutors of Global Engagement Program of Zhejiang University, attended the opening ceremony. More than 30 international graduate students from 23 disciplines and over 10 countries from Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, and Hangzhou Dianzi University, participated in the Workshop.
Prof. ZHAO Jia, Vice Dean of School of International Studies, Zhejiang University, delivered an opening speech. She introduced Zhejiang University’s goals of broadening students’ international horizons and cultivating their ability in global governance, demonstrated the achievements of students working for international organizations, and expressed her expectation for further cooperation. Prof. Shahbaz KHAN, Director of the UNESCO Beijing Multisectoral Regional Office, delivered a speech to congratulate the opening of the Workshop and introduced the framework and principles of the SDGs, stressing that their realization requires the concerted efforts of all humankind, especially of the younger generation.
After the opening ceremony, Dr. Tinofirei gave a presentation titled Operationalizing the SDGs for a Sustainable World. She discussed the origins of the SDGs and detailed the global progress towards achieving them. She emphasized that the collective action on the global scale, in particular, the younger generation is encouraged and needed to participate in the SDGs as they are a matter of great importance to every global citizen. Dr. Tinofirei also spoke about the importance of partnership, accountability and ownership in achieving the SDGs, especially the collaboration among governments, the private sector, the public sector, cities, provinces and universities. She then discussed in detail the role of emerging donors, the private sector and philanthropy in supporting the SDGs-related initiatives, and concluded her speech with a reference to UN reform. The participants had a lively discussion with Dr. Tinofirei and became clearer about their future efforts in professional learning and capacity building.
This Workshop followed the new trends of international cooperation in education, science, culture, information and other fields, focusing on the theory and methods of international project management, as well as the opportunities for the younger generation to work in international organizations. It aimed to help young students gain a deeper understanding of the UNESCO and other international organizations, acquire the methods of international project management, and enhance their sense of responsibility, leadership and creativity to participate in global governance.
The first UNESCO-ZJU Workshop was held in September 2022. It attracted more than 30 graduate students from 13 colleges of Zhejiang University, including the School of International Studies, College of Computer Science and Technology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guanghua Law School, and International Campus, which the students widely acclaimed. This year’s Workshop was strongly supported by UNESCO, with Ms. Rossella SALVIA, Head of Centre for Learning and Partnerships Development at UNESCO Headquarters, Dr. Charity TINOFIREI, Dr. Scott JONES, Director of Mind the Gap Research and Training, Dr. MENG Wenting, former Junior Professional Officer (JPO) of UNESCO, and other experts invited to be the guest speakers. Through various forms of classroom training, field visits, on-site research and in-depth dialogues, this Workshop helped enhance participants’ competence in global governance and laid a solid foundation for their career development.
(Translated by Jingchen HUANG)
